Democritus, who lived from about c.460-370 B.C. was one of the last great natural philosophers. He was before Socrates, making him a Pre-Socratic. Democritus had an influence on Aristotle and his science. Democritus was concerned with what the world was made of. This idea made him a materialist. He composed the idea of the atoms. This lead him to be right and wrong.
Biography
Democritus was born in Abdera which is located on the Northern Aegean Coast. Democritus was known as the laughing philosopher. This was because of his emphasis on cheerfulness.
Major Works
None of Democritus' works survived. There was an account of ethics, epistemology, literature, mathematics, works on astronomy, the physical universe and science.
Philosophy
Democritus was a materialist. He was concerned with what the world was made of and believed in material things.He believed in atoms and the void. He along with a man named Leucippus, had the idea that tiny little blocks existed. Democritus called these atoms. The word atom means un-cuttable. He thought that they were all firm and solid, but not the same because the word was full of an endless amount of atoms and all had a different variety. Democritus said that all atoms were eternal, immutable, and indivisible. The amazing thing is that Democritus discovered atoms without any technology. He simply discovered it by thinking with his mind like a true philosopher.
Democritus also thought that the atom theory explains the human's sense perception. He said when a person sensed something it was from atoms moving about in space. Democritus said that the soul made up of smooth "soul atoms." He also said that after a person died, all of the atoms flied around space and went to form a new body. Democritus agreed with Heraclitus that everything in the universe is changing or flowing. However, he thought that behind everything that flowed something did not flow and those were atoms. The atom theory proposed by Democritus was right and wrong. He was correct on there being tiny little blocks that make up matter. He was wrong when he said that atoms cannot be broken down. They can, into subatomic particles known as protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Quotes
I would rather discover a new cause of nature than be the King of Persia.
The wrongdoer is more unfortunate than the man wronged.
Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul.
Nothing exists except atoms and empty space; everything else is opinion.
Gabe Taylor
Introduction
Democritus, who lived from about c.460-370 B.C. was one of the last great natural philosophers. He was before Socrates, making him a Pre-Socratic. Democritus had an influence on Aristotle and his science. Democritus was concerned with what the world was made of. This idea made him a materialist. He composed the idea of the atoms. This lead him to be right and wrong.
Biography
Democritus was born in Abdera which is located on the Northern Aegean Coast. Democritus was known as the laughing philosopher. This was because of his emphasis on cheerfulness.
Major Works
None of Democritus' works survived. There was an account of ethics, epistemology, literature, mathematics, works on astronomy, the physical universe and science.
Philosophy
Democritus was a materialist. He was concerned with what the world was made of and believed in material things.He believed in atoms and the void. He along with a man named Leucippus, had the idea that tiny little blocks existed. Democritus called these atoms. The word atom means un-cuttable. He thought that they were all firm and solid, but not the same because the word was full of an endless amount of atoms and all had a different variety. Democritus said that all atoms were eternal, immutable, and indivisible. The amazing thing is that Democritus discovered atoms without any technology. He simply discovered it by thinking with his mind like a true philosopher.
Democritus also thought that the atom theory explains the human's sense perception. He said when a person sensed something it was from atoms moving about in space. Democritus said that the soul made up of smooth "soul atoms." He also said that after a person died, all of the atoms flied around space and went to form a new body. Democritus agreed with Heraclitus that everything in the universe is changing or flowing. However, he thought that behind everything that flowed something did not flow and those were atoms. The atom theory proposed by Democritus was right and wrong. He was correct on there being tiny little blocks that make up matter. He was wrong when he said that atoms cannot be broken down. They can, into subatomic particles known as protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Quotes
Bibliography